SCHOOLS BACK
The Welsh Schools championships return, writes Gareth Jones
CARDIFF
MAY 20-22
THE Welsh Schools championships returned for the first time since 2019 but took place behind closed doors at the Sport Wales National Centre following police warnings that there might be trouble.
The Welsh ABA streamed the proceedings on Facebook, but with most of the competitors in their first national tournament, it was a pity that they had no fans and families there to offer support.
The only group with previous experience were the Schools B boxers (born in 2008) who had featured in the Minors A class three years ago. Seven of them were able to claim a second vest.
Three of those – 38kgs Kayden Wallace, who stopped Leon Isaac (Cwmavon Hornets) in the third, 48kgs Troy Hayer, who outscored Pontyclun southpaw
Rhys Dickens, and his female counterpart, Skye Taylor, conqueror of another Hornet,
Lacey Dalling – wore the colours of Premier ABC, who captured seven titles in all.
Another victor for the Swansea club was Lucas Jenkins (Minors B 31kgs), who scraped a split decision over North Walian Leon Hughes (Maes G), but late pull-outs and the vagaries of the draw had meant it was his first action, whereas Hughes was having his third bout.
A similar scenario was not a problem for Apollo’s Schools A 46kgs entry Ashton Fox-price. The stocky southpaw had won twice before facing another beneficiary of withdrawals, but outworked Corey-jayden Sherlock ( Jack to a King).
Splott lefty Sam Mccann (Schools B 54kgs), was counted in the second, but halted Gwent’s
Ashton Jones in the last.
Another Cardiffian, Highfields’
Billy Tom Janes showed much promise when outboxing Jayden Price (Mountain Ash) in the final of the Schools A 57kgs class.
The ups and downs of the fight game were demonstrated in the Schools B 52kgs event, when
Thomas Jones (Caerau Ely), a first-round winner in his semi-final, himself had to be rescued before the end of the opener against
Jaydan Jones (Gwent).
One unusual feature was the appearance of the Thomas triplets from Penyrheol in three Schools A finals, although they all lost. Andy (40kgs) and Tom (44kgs) were outpointed by Pontyclun pair Daniel Lithgow and Hope Price, while 42kgs Billy Thomas was beaten in the third by Gabriel Hegarty (St Joseph’s, Newport), who followed the success of big brother Axel at Youth level last month.